Illinois
Jan. 3: Alton-Audubon Eagle Festival. Activities are scheduled at the Audubon Center at Riverlands and downtown. There will be live eagles on hand, ice-carving displays and shuttles to see eagles in the wild along the Mississippi River. Advance registration for the shuttles is recommended. 618-465-6676, tinyurl.com/kebv3pu. Miles from Chicago: 290
Jan. 9-11: Bald Eagle Days Environmental Fair, Rock Island. A chance to see live eagles and other birds of prey up close, attend educational programs and browse scores of exhibits. 309-788-5912, qccaexpocenter.com. Miles from Chicago: 170
Indiana
Jan. 10-19: Emancipation Proclamation and 13th Amendment Exhibition, Indianapolis. In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Indiana State Museum will have on display the two documents that were recently restored by the National Archives. They’re seldom on display because of their fragile nature. 317-232-1637, tinyurl.com/k7wuyhr. Miles from Chicago: 185
Through Feb. 8: New Art 2.0, Indianapolis. This exhibit at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art highlights the work of more than 50 Native American and Western artists, both emerging and established. Pieces are available for purchase. 317-636-9378, tinyurl.com/mf6p3fg. Miles from Chicago: 185
Iowa
Jan. 3-4: Monster Jam 2015, Des Moines. Twelve-foot tall, 10,000-pound Monster Jam trucks race and roar over and through obstacles on a custom-designed track. 515-564-8000, tinyurl.com/okyypq5. Miles from Chicago: 335
Michigan
Jan. 3, 17, 31, Feb. 14: Lantern Lit Ski and Snowshoeing, Ludington. Visitors to Ludington State Park can bring cross-country skis or snowshoes to ski or walk a lantern-lit groomed trail. The park has 40 pairs of wooden snowshoes to loan for free on a first-come, first-served basis. 231-843-9261, tinyurl.com/lhvzpf7. Miles from Chicago: 245
Jan. 8-11: The Ultimate Fishing Show, Novi. It’s billed as the state’s largest fishing show. There will be plenty of displays of tackle and boats, seminars, a trout pond, fish fry and more. 800-328-6550, showspan.com/ufd. Miles from Chicago: 270
Jan. 10: Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race, Newberry. More than 60 teams are expected to compete in four-, six- and 10-dog races, with routes ranging from 16 to 51 miles. There also will be a 4-mile, two- to three-dog youth event. tcsdr.org. Miles from Chicago: 430
Missouri
Through Feb. 14: Art for a World at War: WWI Posters and Editorial Cartoons, Columbia. The State Historical Society of Missouri Research Center at the University of Missouri presents an exhibit of wartime posters. A variety of military artifacts from different time periods also are on display. 573-882-7083, tinyurl.com/pyjl9fc. Miles from Chicago: 390
Ohio
Jan. 11-May 30: Antique Motorcycle Show: Seldom Seen Cycles, Warren. The National Packard Museum holds this show each year. Nearly 30 vintage machines will be on display, including a Harley from 1905. 330-394-1899, tinyurl.com/ot8nlm7. Miles from Chicago: 390
Wisconsin
Dec. 31: Skyrockers New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show, La Crosse. There’s a 10-minute show at 6 p.m. for kids who don’t stay up late, but the big show launched from atop Grandad’s Bluff begins at midnight. 608-782-2366, tinyurl.com/njhyn9a. Miles from Chicago: 285
Jan. 9-11: The Big Chill, Racine. The 25th Annual Wisconsin Snow-Sculpting Championship is held downtown, with two-person teams turning huge blocks of snow into works of art. 262-634-6002, tinyurl.com/km5kl77. Miles from Chicago: 75
